Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-14

ring his way to Waterdell Hall he
found that he must start at once
il he wished to reach there before
nightfall. 1t was somewhat dull walk,
which led him at last along narrow
road ending in an abrupt descent. The
high hedges on either side had lost their
summer beauty without yet gaining the
glory Of autumn the few roseberries
were sickly looking and withered and
frosted with whitish blight, and their
leaves hung shivering on the twigs,
while in the fields beyond the evening
mists were already rising. The road
turned sharply to the right, and then
Waterdell Hall lay before its future
owner. PltNSS
To q cheerful eye 1t might have
seemed Nesting in bowerof greenery;
but Jenifer, out Of tune with things in
general and tired with his walk, saw in
its withdrawal from the high road a
guilty seclusion from observation.
-Four tall Wellingtonias rose dark and
solemn above the little wicket gate and
cast gloom over the garden patch, in
which some late geraniums and petu-
MAS only served by their touches Of
brilliant color to accentuate the gene
raj melancholy. The house itself, in
stead of boldly looking forth on the
passers-b by, turned its face away from
the road, and had no prospect but the
little bit of garden and the four senti-
mel trees.
The door stood open, and Mr.. Jeni-
fer entered narrow passage where no
welcoming footsteps came to meet
his own; only a Virginian creeper
torn by the wind tapped on the
porch; otherwise all was still. Mr..
Jepifer looked round him for a mo-
ment, and then went through the
silent house to the chief sitting-room.
1t was neither large nor high, but it
had that individual charm which
only age and years of occupation
can give. The old-fashioned mantel
reached, with its dark rich carvings,
TO the ceiling. across which was
a massive oaken beam, nearly black
with age, the fireplace, with its glaring
logs, gave out cheerful glimmer, re-
fiected in the small quarries of the
window opposite, over which hung n
carved scroll, whose inscription there
was not light enough to read. Mr..
JeDifer breathed sigh OF relief at the
comfortable appearance here, in con-
trast to the depressing aspect OF the
rest of the house but instead of set
Ting himself Gas he felt tempted to do
by the fire, he again went out to
look over the surrounding property.
Behind the ground rose abruptly, and
was bounded by a closely grow
ing coppice, through which a narrow
path seemed to strike in the direction
of the village. The parson climbed
the hill, leaving the coppice on his left,
and, standing on the highest portion of
the meadow, looked across the low
hedge at the last pageant of the sun
set. Some elm trees were silbouetted
against the sky, athwart which lay bars
of rosy fame, tender and evanescent.
Cne moment the dying light leaped up
brighter and throbbed through all the
Turning Heaven, and then suddenly it
died away. and the day was not. --- ---.
Jenifer turned and looked at the hall.
Already it seemed to he losing itself in
the darkness which gathered round it,
hiding III the recesses of the gables,
Grawing curtains of mist over the
twisted chimneys. The silence, entire
and absolute, struck almost with OPP
preston on the mind of this man ac-
oustomed to city noises but even as he
thought to himself. Glow still it all
is, there sounded in the coNpice close
behind him long, sobbing, moaning
cry, which rose and fell, and rose again.
and then ceased. $50
larly tender-hoarted or compassionate
man, but that sudden cry filled him
with a vague fear Of some cruel deed
lust perpetrated-som awful mystery
to be brought to Highland after mo-
ments hesitation he turned in the d.
rection whence it had seemed to come,
and found himself on a long path, with
thick yew hedge on either side.
Far ahead, in the dim twilight, he
could descry figure walking slowly
away from him; he could hear a
moaning sound, as of some one in
pain. Mr.. Jenifer fastened his pace in
order to come up with the sufferer, and
as he gained on him and could see him
more distinctly it seemed to him that
there was something familiar in the
gait and bearing of the Unknown. And
as he thought SO the figure turned, and,
facing him, advanced with slow, uncer-
tain footsteps, wringing his hands as he
came. What was it that struck Mr..
Jeniier as SO well known TO
him? What was it that filed him
with sudden horror and sent the
blood back to his heart All
the tales of ghosts and haunting noises
at which he had scoffed SO lately re-
Cured to his mind, and yet there was
nothing unearthly in the aspect Of the
man who was approaching him. And
now they two stood face to face, and
Clement Jenifer saw that this-he
knew not what to call it-bore the face
which he himself had borne twenty
years ago, and he knew-though how
he could not tell--tbat he was standing
face to face with the ghost of his own
dead past.
Then epsued conversation-strange,
unnatural between these two, who
still were one but whether the words
were uttered ON the evening air or
whether the knowledge of what was in
tie mind of each was mutual to both,
it were hard to say.
"Wby DO l haunt you?" said this
double Of himself, gazing on him with
rcproachful eyes. "Do not murdered
victims haunt their slayers, and have
not you murdered that which was the
best part of me? Where are the
premises Of your young days? Where
are the aspirations, the desires after
higher life, the noble purpose with
which my soul was filled? Dead
dead and buried beneath crust of sell
fshness!"
youthful follies," answered Jeni-
fer; "gone the way of all such early
fancies. Why do you persecute me ?
Have i stolen, or murdered, or lived
uncleanly? Have not kept to my
work and done it thoroughly, distaste-
full as it is?"
cit is true" said the other, "the
commandments you have not broken ;
but where are the hearts you have
4 II